Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program finally reaches Dinagat Islands
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made a tangible accomplishment for “no town left behind” campaign with Bawat Bayan Makikinabang (BBM) finally reaching the province of Dinagat Islands with the first tranche of the rice distribution program in San Jose town.
Funded under the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to LGUs (LGSF-FALGU), the program aided 2,089 indigent individuals, who each received 10 kilos of quality rice from the Office of the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program on July 27.
The distribution was spearheaded by the provincial government of Dinagat Islands under the leadership of Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr. It was also facilitated by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Information Office, Remedy Action Center, and barangay officials of the said town.
Attorney Niel Anthony M. Demerey, executive assistant IV to the provincial governor, shared that each beneficiary will receive a total of 40 kilos of rice under the program. “Today’s release is the first tranche, so the beneficiary still has three more rice distributions to look forward to.”
He also emphasized that this campaign is not limited to the provincial government only, but it has also empowered the municipal government units to request budget allocation, empowering them to also conduct additional rice distribution to barangays so more indigent families in the province will benefit from the initiative.
Anselma Silagan, a farmer from San Jose town, expressed gratitude to President Marcos. “Thank you President Marcos kay niabot ni nga grasya sa probinsya. (Thank you, President Marcos, for bringing this blessing to the province).”
“We are seven in the family, so this rice is enough to meet our meals for a week,” she added, as she also thanked Gov. Demerey for his leadership, ensuring that programs of the government would reach the island province and benefit the Dinagatnons.
Through the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, PBBM underscored the importance of close coordination between the national government and local government units in delivering effective services to the communities – near or far. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from Dinagat Islands PIO)
